Electronic Identity Card Holder

ABSTRACT

An electronic identity card holder  100.  The holder  100  comprises a slot  150  for receiving an identity card  170.  The slot  150  has a first side  150   a  and an opposing second side  150   b , the first side  150   a  of the slot  150  having a viewing window  140  that is positioned to allow viewing of the second side  150   b  of slot  150.  The second side  150   b  of the slot  150  comprises a first button  110  configured to perform a function in response to user-actuation. The first button  110  is positioned so as to be covered by an identity card  170  in the slot  150.

The technical field relates to electronic devices that hold identitycards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In environments such as hospitals, schools, construction sites, etc,those present on site are required to wear identity cards to show theyare authorised to be there. These identity cards are typically placedwithin holders (not necessarily electronic) that have a slot forreceiving those cards. These holders act like a sheath for those cardswithin which the identity cards can be releasably held. Basic holdersare generally not specific to any one user or environment and can beexchanged between different users and even between different workingenvironments. Clips are used to retain identity cards in such holders.

More advanced holders can include electronic circuitry and correspondingbuttons to provide various functions, such as tracking, time-stamping(e.g. for clocking-in/clocking-out). These buttons are provided foreasy-access to the user of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect described herein, there is provided an electronic identitycard holder. The holder comprises a slot for receiving an identity cardin the holder, the slot having a first side and an opposing second side,the first side of the slot comprising a viewing window positioned toallow viewing of the second side of slot. The second side of the slotcomprises a first button configured to perform a function in response touser-actuation, wherein the first button is positioned so as to becovered by an identity card in the slot. This can enable a user toprevent accidental activation of functions provided by their cardholder, e.g. due to knocking against an object or button activationwithin their pocket. This also hides the buttons from view so thatpeople other than the user would not be aware that the electronic cardholder itself would provide any functions, or at least which functionsthe device may provide.

The first button may be configured to protrude above a surface of thesecond side of the slot so as to provide a friction fit for an identitycard received in the slot. This aids in securing a card within the slotso that it is not dislodged unintentionally. Also, while clips incurrent card holders require a user to use both hands to disengage theclips and remove the card, this friction fit approach means no clips arenecessary and single-handed removal of the card from the slot ispossible.

Others aspects of the invention are recited in the claims and will beapparent from the description which follows.

FIGURES

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show a perspective view of a first embodiment of anelectronic identity card holder with an identity card that correspondsto a slot of that holder.

FIG. 1 cshows a cross-section view of the first embodiment, takenthrough A-A on FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of an electronicidentity card holder.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

We will now describe a first embodiment with reference to Figure lawhich shows an electronic device that is an identity card holder 100.

A housing of the card holder 100 has a slot 150 for receiving anidentity card 170. The housing is formed of a blend of polycarbonate andABS, but it will be appreciated that other materials can also be used toform the housing. The slot is dimensioned to accept identity cards thatconform to various ISO standards (e.g. ISO/IEC 7810 ID1-85.6 mm×53.98 mmbut thickness can vary, which can be on the order of 1-3 mm) throughslot opening 160. The slot 150 has a first side 150 a and an opposingsecond side 150 b. The first side 150 a of the slot 150 has a viewingwindow 140 positioned to allow viewing of the an identity card 170inserted into the slot. When the card 170 is not in the slot 150 theviewing window 140 allows viewing of the second side 150 b of the slot150.

The second side 150 b of the slot 150 comprises a first button 110, asecond button 120, and a third button 130. Housed internally (not shown)within the holder 100 is circuitry that is connected to the respectivebuttons 110-130. Each button 110-130 is configured to perform a functionprovided by that circuitry in response to user-actuation of a particularbutton 110-130.

FIG. 1 b shows the card holder 100 when an identity card has beeninserted into the slot. As can be seen from this figure, the buttons110-130 are hidden by the card 170 when the card 170 is fully insertedin the slot. The buttons 110-130 are positioned on the second side 150 bof the slot so as to be rendered inaccessible when the card 170 is inthe slot. The buttons 110-130 are therefore covered by a card 170 in theslot. In this example the buttons 110-130 are rendered selectivelyaccessible by the presence/absence of an identity card 170 in the slot.This can enable a user to prevent accidental activation of functionsprovided by their card holder, e.g. due to knocking against an object orbutton activation within their pocket. This also hides the buttons110-130 from view so that people other than the user would not be awarethat the electronic card holder 100 itself would provide any functions.In other examples the card 170 can be made to be flexible enough toallow a user to press the buttons 110-130 through the card 170. Otheroptions can include the card 170 being opaque to fully hide the buttons110-130, or the card being transparent to allow viewing of the buttons110-130 through the card.

It will be appreciated that while three buttons 110-130 have been shown,in some embodiments only first button 110 could be provided (e.g. toprovide a clock-in/clock-out functionality), or any number of buttonscould be provided, depending on the functionality desired for the cardholder.

In a slightly modified example, the buttons 110-130 are configured toprotrude above the surface of the second side 150 b of the slot so as toprovide a friction fit for an identity card 170 received in the slot150. This can, for example, be provided by a rubber surface integrallyformed with or disposed on the button 110, e.g. an elastic polymer. Thiscan be seen to aid in securing a card within the slot so that it is notdislodged unintentionally. Also, while clips in current card holdersrequire a user to use both hands to disengage the clips and remove thecard, this friction fit approach means no clips are necessary andsingle-handed removal of the card from the slot is possible. A user canclasp the holder with one hand, with the viewing window facing upwardsfrom the palm of their hand, and the user can slidably disengage thecard from the holder just using their thumb.

FIG. 1 c shows another slightly modified example, where the first button110 is configured to protrude above the surface of the second and thirdbuttons 120 and 130. The difference between the protrusions of the firstbutton 110 and second/third buttons 120, 130 thereby causes a flex inthe identity card 170 within the slot to further secure said identitycard in the slot.

In FIG. 1 c, because the card holder 100 has three buttons and thesecond and third buttons 120, 130 are positioned on opposite sides ofthe first button 110, the identity card is caused to be flexed in acurved manner about the first button 110 to secure said identity card inthe slot. It will be appreciated that if just two buttons were used, orif the arrangement of the buttons was different then the flexing neednot be curved, but could result in the identity card being elasticallydistended to secure the card within the slot.

In FIG. 1 c it is the height of the buttons themselves that control thefriction fit. In another example, the first button 110 and thesecond/third buttons 120, 130 comprise first and second respectiveraised tactile profiles, e.g. due to embossed or overmolded patternsusing materials like silicon rubber, and the patterns can beraised/formed into patterns like numbers/letters etc. The height of theraised tactile profiles can therefore control the extent of theprotrusion of the respective buttons. FIG. 2 shows an example where thebuttons have overmolded numbers ‘1’, ‘2’ and ‘3’ that provide theheightened protrusions to provide said friction fit.

FIG. 2 also shows details of another embodiment that is similar to thatof FIGS. 1 a-1 c except that there is also a micro-USB slot 280 thatallows a user to connect another device to the card holder 200 to allowfor initialisation and/or customisation. For example, the buttons210-230 provide predetermined functions, which can be preset duringmanufacture, or can be user-configurable via the micro-USB slot (or evenconfigurable via the card holder 200 in isolation).

FIG. 2 also shows an area 295 which has a camera aperture 296 provided.This can allow for images to be taken when the camera aperture 296 isunobscured. Other features or elements (e.g. temperature sensors, lightmeters, radiation sensors, etc) could be provided on the second side ofthe slot 250 b so that they are selectively accessible in a similarfashion to the buttons 210-230 depending on whether a card is in theslot or not.

What can also be seen from FIGS. 1 a and 2, is that the buttons arepositioned proximal to the closed end away from the opening 160/260 toallow for access to said button(s) upon partial removal of the identitycard from the slot. Just moving the card a short distance out of theslot reveals the buttons for use. This can be advantageous for quickuser-access to the buttons without fully removing the card. Otherbuttons could be provided further along the second side of the slot sothat certain functions are revealed depending on the extent to which thecard is inserted/removed from the slot.

FIG. 2 also shows a wearing tag 290 which allows a lanyard, wrist strapor arm band to be attached to the card holder for wearing by a user.

Other examples can look substantially the same the card holders as shownin FIGS. 1 a-c and 2. Other examples need not be bound to looking thesame as those card holders depicted.

The skilled person would realize that the raised tactile profile may beapplied only to the first button 110, for example when there exists onlyone button, or when there exists more than one button. Equally, theraised tactile profile may be applied to any one or more buttons in anyconfiguration.

It will be appreciated that various features from some embodimentsdescribed above can be combined with other embodiments without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

1. An electronic identity card holder, comprising a slot for receivingan identity card in the holder, the slot having a first side and anopposing second side, the first side of the slot comprising a viewingwindow positioned to allow viewing of the second side of slot, and thesecond side of the slot comprising a first button configured to performa function in response to user-actuation, wherein the first button ispositioned so as to be covered by an identity card in the slot.
 2. Thecard holder of claim 1, wherein the first button is positioned so as tobe selectively accessible by the presence/absence of an identity card inthe slot.
 3. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the first button isconfigured to protrude above the surface of the second side of the slotso as to provide a friction fit for an identity card received in theslot.
 4. The card holder of claim 1, comprising a second button, whereinthe second button is configured to protrude above the surface of thesecond side of the slot, wherein the first button is configured toprotrude above the surface of the at least second button, the differencebetween the protrusions of the first and second buttons thereby flex anidentity card within the slot to further secure said identity card inthe slot.
 5. The card holder of claim 4, wherein the first and secondbuttons comprise first and second respective raised tactile profiles,the height of the raised tactile profiles controlling the protrusions ofthe first and second buttons.
 6. The card holder of claim 4, wherein thecard holder comprises a third button, the second and third buttons beingpositioned on opposite sides of the first button to flex the identitycard in a curved manner about the first button to secure said identitycard in the slot.
 7. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the or eachbutton initially has a function which is preset during manufacture, oris user-configurable.
 8. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the cardholder comprises other elements provided on the second side of the slot,these other elements being selectively accessible by thepresence/absence of an identity card in the slot.
 9. The card holder ofclaim 1, wherein the slot comprises an open end for receiving anidentity card and a closed end, wherein the button(s) are positionedproximal to the closed end to allow for access to said button(s) uponpartial removal of the identity card from the slot.
 10. The card holderof claim 1, wherein the card holder is configured to be wearable. 11.The card holder of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the slots areconfigured to accept an identity card conforming to one or more ISOstandards.
 12. (canceled)
 13. The card holder of claim 2, wherein thefirst button is configured to protrude above the surface of the secondside of the slot so as to provide a friction fit for an identity cardreceived in the slot.
 14. The card holder of claim 2, comprising asecond button, wherein the second button is configured to protrude abovethe surface of the second side of the slot, wherein the first button isconfigured to protrude above the surface of the at least second button,the difference between the protrusions of the first and second buttonsthereby flex an identity card within the slot to further secure saididentity card in the slot.
 15. The card holder of claim 3, comprising asecond button, wherein the second button is configured to protrude abovethe surface of the second side of the slot, wherein the first button isconfigured to protrude above the surface of the at least second button,the difference between the protrusions of the first and second buttonsthereby flex an identity card within the slot to further secure saididentity card in the slot.
 16. The card holder of claim 2, wherein theor each button initially has a function which is preset duringmanufacture, or is user-configurable.
 17. The card holder of claim 3,wherein the or each button initially has a function which is presetduring manufacture, or is user-configurable.
 18. The card holder ofclaim 4, wherein the or each button initially has a function which ispreset during manufacture, or is user-configurable.
 19. The card holderof claim 5, wherein the or each button initially has a function which ispreset during manufacture, or is user-configurable.
 20. The card holderof claim 6, wherein the or each button initially has a function which ispreset during manufacture, or is user-configurable.
 21. The card holderof claim 2, wherein the card holder comprises other elements provided onthe second side of the slot, these other elements being selectivelyaccessible by the presence/absence of an identity card in the slot.